Katherine Legge to Carry Girl Scout Logo on Helmet at Indianapolis 500 to Support Girl Scouts

Indianapolis
500 driver Katherine Legge will honor millions of Girl Scouts by wearing the
Girl Scout logo on her helmet this Sunday when she competes for the second time
in the greatest spectacle in motorsports.
The first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America, Legge
attributes much of her success to the confidence and character she developed while
growing up in the United Kingdom as a Girl Guide, part of a sister organization
to Girl Scouts. She became one of just
nine women ever to race in the Indianapolis 500 when she competed in her first
Indy 500 last year, also wearing the Girl Scout logo, and she is one of only four
women racing in the 33-car field this year.

The logo will be worn to call attention
to the cause of girls’ leadership and the need to encourage more girls in
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). “I had to fight to get into this
year’s Indianapolis 500, and carrying Girl Scouts’ logo on my helmet reminds me
of what got me here,” says Legge. “When I was a young girl, Girl Guides
inspired me to believe in myself and my ability to achieve my dreams. I’m proud to bring the Girl Scout logo to the
most important race in the world as a reminder that women can succeed in any
field if they believe in themselves and work hard.”

Girl Scouts of the USA has been
helping girls break career barriers for more than 100 years. In 1913, Girl
Scouts encouraged girls to consider becoming professional aviators. Today, the
organization is focused entirely on giving girls the skills they need to become
leaders in their own lives.

One of the ways Girl Scouts is
helping encourage leadership skills today is by supporting girls who wish to pursue careers in science, math, engineering and
technology (STEM). Girl Scout Research
Institute’s 2012 study, Generation
STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, found that girls are aware that gender
barriers persist in today's society. The study found that 57 percent of girls agreed
that if they were to pursue a STEM career, they would "have to work harder
than a man to be taken seriously." The study also found that 89 percent of all girls
agree that "obstacles make me stronger."

Legge works with Girl Scouting as a STEM ambassador to help girls
overcome obstacles to their interest in these fields. As a successful
competitor in the male-dominated sport of racing, Legge exemplifies qualities
girls need to succeed in STEM, including a strong understanding of math and the
sciences, being team-oriented, and working diligently toward a defined goal.